Geometrical Models in the Sepher Yetzirah and Bahir

In the introduction to their translations of the Sepher Yetzirah and Sepher ha-Bahir1,
W.G. Davies and G. Zur suggest that the structure of the Sephirot described is
consistent with that of a cube containing a double tetrahedron and octahedron. The
aim of this note is to try and clarify this geometry.

Making the model

We start with a cube, shown in red. By joining alternate corners of the cube, we make
a tetrahedron (a triangular pyramid), coloured green and labelled 1,2,3,4:

We make a second tetrahedron, joining the other four corners of the cube (shown
below in black). This makes two intersecting tetrahedra as illustrated below.
(See footnote for an animated version2).

1
Electronic copies available at http://www.bizworld.co.uk/saros/pubs.html
2
For an animated version (thanks to Greg Egan and John Baez) click on
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/mathematical/egan_compound_polyhedra/cube_with_2_tetrahedra.gif
The edges of the two tetrahedra cross at the middle of each face of the cube, giving
six points. Joining these points together makes an octahedron, shown in blue and
labelled 5,6,7,8,9,10:

Another visualisation of the

octahedron and cube without the
tetrahedron.

(For the sake of clarity, only one Image credit:

Birgit Lachner via Wikimedia Commons
of the tetrahedra is shown).

The figure below shows the same structure, viewed from a different direction lining
up with point 4. Considering Verse 8 of Chapter 1 in Sepher Yetzirah, we interpret the
four corners of the green tetrahedron as representing: 1-Spirit, 2-Spirit (or Air) from
Spirit, 3-Water from Spirit, and 4-Fire from Water. The corners of the octahedron are
interpreted as aligning with the six directions (Height, Depth, East, West, South,
North).3 Thus these points are the 10 Sephirot.

3
Note that the numbering of the points in the diagram of the octahedron do not correspond to the
numbering of the directions in verse 8.
The four unlabelled points on the intersecting tetrahedron (black line) perhaps
correspond to the four measurements in Chapter 1, Verse 4: boundless good,
boundless evil, boundless beginning and boundless end4. The directions again
correspond to the octahedron corners.

In Chapter 5, Verse 2 of the Sepher Yetzirah, the twelve simple letters are linked to
the 12 diagonal directions: East-Depth, South-Height, South-East and so on. These
correspond to the edges of the octahedron. Each corner of the octahedron corresponds
to one of six directions, and so the lines joining them correspond to the 12 diagonal
directions (as illustrated below, showing the signs of the zodiac corresponding to each
of the 12 simple letters).

Visualisation

As a result of this understanding, it might be possible to imagine oneself standing in

the centre of the octahedron. Each corner of the octahedron is one of the six
directions, sealed with the different combinations of the letters yod, vav and heh. The
twelve edges of the octahedron represent the twelve simple letters, or the signs of the
zodiac. Through each triangular face of the octahedron, one looks out to a corner of
one of the two tetrahedra, or (equivalently) a corner of the cube. Spirit, air, water, fire,
beginning, end, good and evil.

4
In the introduction to Sepher Ha-Bahir, where this diagram originates, the three visible corners are
labelled Good, Height and Depth. I suspect that Height and Depth were labelled in error and should
have been Beginning and End.
Second Model

An alternative way of representing the same geometry is to use a model constructed

from spheres (eg. table-tennis balls) instead of lines and corners. To do this we start
by making a 5-layer tetrahedron, and then add a group of four balls to each face, thus
making two intersecting tetrahedra – a ‘star’ shape.

Adding to each face to make the

5-layer tetrahedron star shape.

Looking at the star shape from a Looking at the star shape from the
corner shows the intersecting side shows the cube outline.
tetrahedra – one ‘pointing up’ towards the
viewer and the other ‘pointing down’.

Although less obvious, the octahedron is still embedded within the star shape, with
the six directions at the intersections of the edges of the tetrahedra (the centers of the
cubic faces). For example, the ball marked ‘E’ in the diagram above represents one of
the six directions. By cutting off the 8 corners of the tetrahedra, the octahedral shape
is exposed:

Also concealed within the star shape (and indeed within the octahedron) is the
dymaxion or cuboctahedron shape. This shape, where one central ball is surrounded
by 12 others, is an aspect not seen in the ‘line-and-corner’ model.

The dymaxion
The dark coloured balls make
the dymaxion.

One way of thinking about the star shape is that there is:
- One ball at the very centre
- Twelve balls that surround it and make the dymaxion (13 balls)
- Add a ball for each of the six directions to make the octahedron (19 balls)
- Add four groups of 4 balls to make a 5-layer tetrahedron (35 balls)
- Add four groups of 4 balls to make the star shape (51 balls).
The introductions to the Yetzirah and Bahir include other numerical interests in the
star shape:

- The star shape has seven levels.

- The surface contains 50 balls (all but the central ball is on the surface). The
letter Nun equals 50 in numerical value.
- Each tetrahedron contains six edges (Vav) and the number of spheres along
these edges adds up to 22.
- When it is on its base, the number of visible spheres in a tetrahedron is thirty-
one (all except the one in the middle and the three on the inner part of the
bottom face). The total of all spheres in the tetrahedron is 35. when it is
remembered that it was customary to include in the numbering the whole that
is formed, we have the combination of the 32 and the 36 upon which much of
the Bahir’s explanation is built

One of the comments in the introduction to the Yetzirah is a little unclear: “Also each
of the subsidiary tetrahedra contain 10 spheres which answer to the four worlds of
logos, creation, fashioning and making.” A three-level tetrahedron contains 10
spheres, and there are several ways that three-level tetrahedra can be seen in the star
shape. Precisely which four of these are meant to correspond to the four worlds is not
clear.

R.T.
Oct 2019